The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-11-24

'Lifting g purse. Come ou.''
And this was the end of the poor little
waits grand dinner. On the way to the
station house with an officer.
A curious crowd of street boys, news
paper vendors, bootblacks and the like
followed the policeman and his two little
prisoners to the station house.
His honor was taking dinner; would not
hold court today, and the two waits were
put into comfortable cell upstairs,
Rags cried herself to sleep, while Bot
ties, hero like. sat by her side upon the
cot and kept cheering her up by telling
her that it would be all right in the
morning
And down stairs, under lock and key,
the unlucky purse and ring were lying in
the desk drawer
'sNext."
The two waits, Bottles and Rags, were
pushed forward until they stood in front
of the desk before his honor
'Bless me! what's thlss Little ones,
what are you doing here?" asked the kind
faced judge, beaming down upon the pair,
through set of gold bowed glasses.
Bottles knew it was not proper for him
to speak, and Rags could not.
''Oficer, what is the charge against this
pairY'' asked the Judge of the policeman
who had made the arrest.
Stealing purse, your honOr.n
"Ahi that is serious charge"
''But, sir, It ain't"-
"Never mind, my little man; your turn
will come. Let the party who made the
complaint stand forward
tall man, clad in clerical garments,
with long drawn visage, stepped for
ward. The corners of his trap like
mouth were drawn down in
most solemn expression. He clasped
his hands in front Of him, and turned
his eyes upon the little waits, as though
even their presence was unholy to his
cloth.
''Your name?" uttered the Judge.
"Rev. Abraham Clearstarch."
Bottles could hardly hold in the litter,
which, notwithstanding the soleInnity of
Ehe occasion, was ready to bubble from
his lips.
t!YOu are a minister, are you not?"
The reverend gentlemen bowed.
''Mr. Clearstarch, ycu may state your
case in as few words as possible"
Eyes, sir. Day before yesterday after
noon, purchased ring for my daughter.
l put the ring into my purse, and walked
down to India wharf upon business.
Upon returning to my hotel I found that
my purse was gone. l retraced my steps;
but to no avail; / could not find my
purse. Yesterday afternoon at dinner in
the hotel where | was stopping I saw
the ring upon the finger of this girl.
| recognized the ring, and knew
st once that she must know OF the
purse. l left the dining room, found an
officer and had him make the arrest. The
girl picked my pocket"
''Sure OF that, Mr.. Clearstarchs' asked
his honor
"She must have done SO. l certainly
could not have lost it," responded the
reverend gentleman.
"Was the purse and ring found upon
the person OF the culprit?' asked the judge
of the officer.
'"rhe ring was upon the girls finger,
the purse in the boys pocket"
bad case. Now, my little man, tell
your story
eff you please, str, I'm only boy,
rough and all that, sir l swear sum
times and-maybe you wouldn't believe
me- She'll tell you all bout it. You
see, she's only little girl what hain't
got no friend in all the world but Bottles
Bottles is me, sir. Rags is her name.
She never sWearS and-she never picked
mis- pockets. know that, cause I'm her
father, you see
Bottles had found his tongue and he de
liyered the foregoing in q straightforward
way, which made the judge smile good
naturedly.
''Now, Rags, tell it all. Don't he
| feared. The gospel sharp can't hurt us, "
| whispered Bottles to tie trembling girl by
| his side
With frequent sobs and choking excla-
nations Rags told her story, which you
already know She also told how good
| Bottles had been to her; how ne had often
| gone without anything to eat so that she
should have food IN all, she gave faith
| ful picture of the peculiar life which
surrounded the pair. The judge vas as
sured of her truth, and after she had
ceased, he said:
cts evident that the girl has told what
| is true. Is there any one in the room &c
quainted with the pair?" A sleek, fat,
jolly looking man stepped forward and
| said
81 know them, your honor. l keep a
butcher shop down in South street. A
newsboy came and told me last night that
| Bottles and Rags had been arrested. Your
| HOtlOr, L SlGDu mere 10 say, iTOIH tup GOt-
tom of my heart, that | know both OF
them to be honest, square and upright.
They are unfortunate children of the
street who make an honest living.
hope your honor won't be hard on the two
poor little kids
"They are both discharged. Mr.. Clear
starch, you will get your purse and ring ot
the clerk. One thing gmore-you'll not fipC
the whole amount, The cashier Of the Craw-
ford restaurant just sent me note, tell
ing how the two little unfortunates en-
joyed their Thanksgiving dinner at hi
place yesterday. OF course, having re
covered your property, you will willingly
donate that dinner for charity's sake
Next.
The Rev. Abraham Clearstarch got hi
purse and ring, and went on his way.
And Bottles and Rags found in q kindll
stranger who had been present friend il
whom philanthropy was largely devel
oped. The pair are, this day of Thanks
giving, eating a noble dinner at home il
one Of our great western states,
At last the two waits, Bottles and Rags
are safely harbored from the sterner blow
of poverty.--H. S. Keller in Commercia
Il.